Coronado Travel Guides

Coronado spotlight

There are essentially 2 sections of town you’ll be looking at if you plan to stay at a hotel in Coronado. Because of the compact nature of Coronado, you'll be near the water regardless of which section you choose. The downtown neighborhood places you near famed Coronado Central Beach. Ferry Landing, on the other hand, puts you close to the San Diego-Coronado Bridge and ferries to the mainland.

Coronado’s dual nature as a laid-back seaside community and a playground for luxury is well represented by its eclectic shopping scene. If you stick to the main street, you’ll find independent upscale boutiques, casual places to buy trinkets, surf and beach clothing shops, and virtually no chain stores. Gravitate toward the hotels, and you’ll encounter stores specializing in designer fashions and high-end beach couture.

Whether you're in the mood to lounge on the beach, learn how to surf, pedal along a seaside trail, or indulge in a shopping spree, Coronado has you covered. To experience the island's cultural side, you can visit historical landmarks, stroll through a museum, and take in a play. Tours by foot, ferry, boat, or bike will introduce you to the island within an hour.

Located just across the bay from downtown San Diego, the seaside village of Coronado (“the crowned one” in Spanish) includes some of the best beaches in the US. For most visitors, the sunshine, surf, and sand are the main attractions. But there's lots more to entice you: the legendary Hotel del Coronado, scenic bike trails, browse-worthy shops, and a tempting array of restaurants.

Coronado’s compact space is loaded with intriguing kid-friendly activities that will keep your children engaged for hours - mostly outdoors in the sunshine. You can expect to see a lot of fun things built around the city’s ideal weather and sandy shoreline. And, of course, many of these activities are great for burning off a little extra energy.

Coronado’s dining scene is an engaging mix of upscale and casual venues. The restaurants near either of its shores tend to provide diners with dramatic coastal views and an elegant yet approachable ambience. But you'll also find plenty of casual joints that are perfectly suited for a low-key nosh after a day on the beach.

Coronado’s mix of pristine beachfront and sunny weather has been attracting vacationers for over a century. Many visitors combine a Coronado getaway with some time in San Diego, easily accessed via a short ferry ride or a drive across the soaring San Diego-Coronado Bridge. And while Coronado is just minutes from a major metropolis, its devotion to being on “island time” makes it feel much farther away.